Horticulture Industries Show to Take Place in Tulsa

By Trisha Gedon, Oklahoma State University

10-13-2009

Oklahoma State University is partnering with the University of Arkansas to sponsor the 29th Annual Oklahoma and Arkansas Horticulture Industries Show. This two-day event will take place Fri., Jan. 8 and Sat., Jan. 9, 2010.

The growers meeting and trade show will take place at Tulsa Community College, Northeast Camps, 3727 E. Apache in Tulsa. This event has consistently provided growers and the general public with the latest information on vegetables, fruits, herbs, Christmas trees, farmers’ market crops and public gardening issues. All farmers of horticultural crops, as well as home gardeners from Oklahoma, Arkansas and surrounding states will benefit from the program and are welcome to attend.

Other sponsors of the event include Tulsa Community College, Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation and the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture.

Pre-registration is $50 per person and must be postmarked by Dec. 15. Registration after that date or on-site will be $60 per person. The registration fee includes a copy of the proceedings.

This year’s event will feature a keynote speaker on each day of the meeting. Rick Snyder, an Extension specialist at Mississippi State University, specializes in mushrooms, greenhouse and field vegetable crops with an emphasis on greenhouse tomatoes. His research includes hydroponic vegetable production, cultural practices, specialty crops, plastic and degradable mulches, trickle irrigation and cultivar trials.

Another keynote speaker will be Diana Endicott of Good Natured Family Farms. Endicott, along with her husband, Gary, farms a 400 acre organic and a 400 acre transitional farm in southeast Kansas where they raise beef cattle, grain, hay and tomatoes.

In addition to the valuable information shared by the keynote speakers, attendees also will have the opportunity to take part in concurrent educational presentations on Christmas trees, vegetables, fruit, farmers’ market growing/sustainable agriculture and public gardens/Master Gardeners.  Speakers will include university and industry experts.

Participants will receive a CD containing programs presented during the event.

For additional details about this event, go to http://www.hortla.okstate.edu/his.htm, or contact Donna Dollins, show coordinator, at or 405-744-7460.